Relocating

Let Me In

"Ashton just let us in!" Aria screams at the door. Jacob puts his hand on her shoulder and she sighs.

"Aria maybe we should give him some space." He says and pulls her into a hug.

"I don't want him to do anything to himself." She says into his chest.

"I'll stay here at the door, you guys can leave. If he sees you gone, maybe he'll think I left too." I suggest and she nods.

"Please don't leave until he lets you in." She says and pulls me into the hug.

"I won't." I say and detach myself.

They turn and leave for his car and I scrunch up on the doorstep. I make myself small, so if he looks out his window, he won't see me.

About an hour later, I hear the lock click and the handle moves. I stand on the edge of the door platform so I can get in even if he tries to slam it in my face.

The door opens and a tear stained Ashton stares at me blankly, like I'm a stranger. I run to him and hug him. He doesn't hug back. He just stands there.

"Are you going to talk." I say and he doesn't answer.

"Ash, it'll be okay soo-"

"No." He says and detaches me from him.

"Yes. It will! We can get through this together."

"I don't need anyone. All I need is my sister."

"You can't just shut out everyone. Aria needs you. And, and, I need you." I say the last part in almost a whisper.

"Well I don't need you." He says and I feel my eyes begin to overflow.

"Wha-"

"You heard me!"

"What the fuck Ashton! Someone tries to help you and you shut them out?!"

"Yeah. I don't need anyone."

"Yeah you do! It's the other people that will help you get through this shit!"

"How would you know?"

"Really?! How would I know? What the fuck is wrong with you!?" I scream and the tears are now out of anger.

"It's not the same!"

"You're right. It's not. I lost both my parents! I had no siblings to help me get through it. All my old friends abandoned me. The only person that looked to help me was my Aunt Mary, and she was as bad as I was. So no it's not the same situation."

"Rachel."

"What Ashton?"

"Leave."

"Why? What else could you possibly do?"

"I don't want to talk to anyone!"

"I didn't know I was just anyone." I say and turn around. He takes hold of my hand, but I don't turn back.

"What do you want me to do Rachel?"

"Let me in." I say, but still don't turn.

"I can't."

"Why not? What's holding you back?"

"Someone I love just died and I don't want to be around other people. All I want is that person."

"I know the feeling." I say and finally turn back around.

I hug him tightly and he hugs back this time. He buries his head in my shoulder and begins to cry again. I only hold him tighter and he squeezes the air out of me. I don't dare move.

"Can you stay with me tonight?" He mumbles into my shoulder.

"Sure. I'll text Eliza and tell her I will be there about an hour late tomorrow morning."

"You sure?"

"Yeah you're more important." I say and he lifts his head off my shoulder.

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't be." I say and place my cheek against his. I leave a light peck on it and his grip on me gets tighter again.

"I need to sleep." He almost whispers.

"Alright." I say and he holds my hand.

"I don't think I can make it up the stairs. Wanna sleep on the couch?" He asks.

"Wherever you're comfortable." I respond and he lays down on it, leaving me no room. I head to the chair but he grabs my arm.

"I kind of wanted you to lay, well, with, uh, me." He says and sits up.

I sit down next to him and follow his body as he lays back. We rest there with the TV on and I look up at him around 10pm and he's asleep. I reach for my phone on the coffee table and text Aria.

To Aria: He'll be fine soon, I hope. How are you holding out?

To Rachel: Better than before. Happy you could get through to him.

To Aria: Same. Get some rest. I plan to right now. Goodnight.

To Rachel: Goodnight

I put my phone back and rest with Ashton. He finally sounds at ease for the first time today. I know I may have been harsh before, but he needed to hear it. He wasn't going to get any better if he didn't. I'm just happy he let me in.